When I asked Alexevys why she felt compelled to come to my Photo+Interview, she told me she wanted to help normalize breastfeeding.

“Breastfeeding still feels taboo in my country (Venezuela) and in the states (USA). I want to help change that.”

Coming from a conservative Latin country myself, I understood what she meant. While she expressed complete support from her family, the discomfort at the sight of a child at one’s breast is still palpable.

She also opened up a recent negative conversation she had with another mother. The woman had expressed a condemning attitude towards breastfeeding photos, particularly those done in outdoor settings, claiming there was no need to flaunt breastfeeding, or glorify it.

It’s the greatest mystery to me why mothers choose to do this. Why women put each other down, judge each other, pit themselves as enemies in eternal competition instead of creative a tribe, a sisterhood. Because when we fight amongst each other, we only continue to perpetuate all the negative stereotypes about women. The cattiness, the disloyalty, the distrust…

Towards the end of the interview I asked her what she thought her family might feel towards these photos.

“My husband is one hundred percent supportive, he will love them. My family… I don’t know… It will be an interesting reveal.”

Alexevys, thank you so much for sharing yourself with us so we can help normalize breasfeeding. Congratulations on your journey, reaching the 12 months of breastfeeding milestone that still out of reach for most American mothers.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mother and baby desire. The World Health Organization recommends continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond.” – CDC.gov

Alexevys, you are so incredibly beautiful. Thank you again for participating in this humble project to get women’s voices out in the open!

Beautiful! As an American mother of five, all are grown adults now, I breastfed them till they were at least 12 months of age. I think more mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed by their doctors (its actually very beneficial for mom as well as baby) and employers should have at least one pumping room for nursing moms for those who have no choice but to return to work after delivering. Alex, you were beautiful as usual and baby Aiden so cute!